by Chantal Ashford, Contributing Writer
We have another entry in The Boys franchise. Gen V is another raunchy, outrageous, and diabolical series, but this time, it’s in the world of college. No, it isn’t going down the nostalgic lane with The Seven, but a newer generation of supes, showing they have what it takes to have a spot on the team.
Set concurrently with the fourth season of The Boys, we meet Marie Moreau (Jaz Sinclair), who gets accepted into Godolkin University, a college that trains supes in battle royale-esque challenges in an effort to find the best of the best. Godolkin University — or God U — then chooses which one of their students will become one of The Seven. Marie finally finds a place where she can be herself without being seen as a monster due to her tragic past.
At God U, she befriends her roommate Emma (Lizzie Broadway) and her popular classmates, Andre (Chance Perdomo), Cate (Maddie Phillips), Jordan (London Thor/Derek Luh), and the school’s top pick, Luke Riordan/Golden Boy (Patrick Schwarzenegger).
Marie’s first days feel like a typical college day with hormonal young adults: the parties, staying out past curfew, causing chaos, streaming numbers online, and finding time to be the best they can be. But this is only the surface, as their days on campus are too good to be true. There are darker secrets throughout the walls of God U, and this band of supes, along with Luke’s younger brother, Sam (Asa Germann), comes together to figure out the truth and what Vought is up to.
This first season showcases the characters and their different skills, personalities, and battles. Yes, they may be superheroes, but they are still human. Even though they’re a ragtag team, they learn how to work together and try to do the right thing, all while worrying about their GPA.
There are times, though, when the writers should’ve focused a little more on their main cast and given us more to grasp with their characters. We meet the characters, but only get to know a few tidbits about them — hopefully we get a chance to delve more into this new crew.
The performances are up to par for a superhero show. Everybody pulls their weight and shows up. Some show up better than others, though, especially the ladies (Sinclair, Broadway, and Phillips). The bloody, gory, and downright disgusting gives the shock value as I expect, since it follows in the steps of its predecessor.
By the end of Season One, the team has to fight to survive after finding out the truth with God U. How will the supes be punished for their choices? Will there still be a God U? Where are The Boys or The Seven in all of this? Will anyone know the absolute truth?
Since Gen V was renewed for a second season, I can’t wait to see where it will take us, since the Season One finale ends with a crazy twist, along with a post-credit scene; I wish there was another episode, or a new season, right around the corner.
Rating: Loved It
Gen V is currently streaming on Prime Video
You can read more from Chantal Ashford, and follow her on Twitter or Letterboxd